Unified messaging methods and systems for communication and cooperation among distributed agents in a computing environment
US6691151B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 15, 1999 |
| Grant date | Feb 10, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 15, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F16/90332
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides a Unified Messaging system with an emphasis on ubiquitous access and dynamic presentation of the information and services supported by an agent community. The present invention allows queries across dynamically changing, complex information; shared context and reference resolution among applications; and flexible translation of multimedia data. Utilizing an Open Agent Architecture, the present invention allows a user to receive multiple information types, such as email, voicemail, and multimedia data, utilizing a single user interface, such as a phone. Communication and cooperation between agents are brokered by one or more facilitators, which are responsible for matching requests, from users and agents, with descriptions of the capabilities of other agents. It is not generally required that a user or agent know the identities, locations, or number of other agents involved in satisfying a request, and relatively minimal effort is involved in incorporating new agents and “wrapping” legacy applications. Extreme flexibility is achieved through an architecture organized around the declaration of capabilities by service-providing agents, the co…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.